Thieves hit aged-care home - The West Australian

WA's first Aboriginal magistrate has lashed out at a "low-life" theft at a volunteer-run aged-care home in Queens Park.

Sister Kate's Children 1934 to 1953 Aboriginal Corporation chairwoman Sue Gordon said she was unsure how the group would pay to replace parts of a fence stolen from the 2.2ha property early on Thursday.

Dr Gordon said the attack appeared premeditated and the thieves would have needed specific equipment and manpower to remove the 2m-long wrought iron panels.

"It's devastating and it's upset the oldies because they think somebody is trying to harm them," she said.

"It's not cheap to replace.

"It's just a low-life who has decided they need this fence more than us, which has left our property vulnerable."

The thieves took 10 panels.

Dr Gordon said apart from replacing the stolen parts, each of the fence's 200 panels would now have to be removed and fitted with four coach bolts per panel.

She expected the repair bill to run into thousands of dollars.

The fence is not insured.

"We're a total charity, we have no paid employees, the tenants pay rent, all of us that do the work there are just volunteers, even me in the office," Dr Gordon said.

"The bottom has dropped out of my world."

Sister Kate's seniors' accommodation, consisting of 10 units and a six-bedroom group home, was completed in 2011 with the assistance of $1.9 million from the State Government.

The site houses the former residents of the Sister Kate's Children's Home.

There are 11 tenants, aged between 55 and 84.

Born on a station near Meekatharra, Dr Gordon was taken from her mother and sent to Sister Kate's Home at age four.

In 1986, she was the first Aboriginal to head a WA government department as commissioner for Aboriginal planning.

In 1988, she became WA's first Aboriginal magistrate and first full-time Children's Court magistrate, where she became known for her no-nonsense approach.